Fight for Me

Nick is getting restless waiting for Layla to come back. He’s already pacing back and forth.

Micah?

Yes Alpha.

Find out if any of the patrols near the eastern border can spot Layla.

I thought you said we should stay back and give her space. Nick can hear Micah snickering.

Nick sighs. Yeah. Well she’s taking too long.

I’ll get right on it myself. I sent some of the patrols to the southern border. They picked up on something.

Anything of concern?

Doesn’t seem like it. The scent isn’t strong and it never crossed the border. Whatever it is, it knows not to trespass our lands.

I’ll just go myself.

He cuts the link and starts walking in the direction she went.

But the more he walks, the more the ever-growing silence tightens that lump in his chest.

Something isn’t right?

He starts jogging, trying to find her faster.

The clicking sound of paws approaching draws his attention.

An ash-brown wolf runs up to him and skids to a stop.

You haven’t found her yet? Micah says through the link.

“No. Something’s wrong.” I’m picking up mixed scents, soft. And they aren’t from any of our men. And seeing Micah sniff the sir, I’m sure he can smell it too.

Nick starts rushing through the woods with Micah hot on his trails.

“Layla!” He resorts to shouting, in the hopes of it revealing her location and lessening his growing worries.

But with no response he continues to run, looking through all directions, hoping to catch something. But all he can follow is her fading scent.

He comes to a sudden stop, when her scent too just stops. But looking down, he can see footprints. Multiple.

Micah’s wolf approaches and sniffs the tracks. But he suddenly pulls his snout away with a loud growl.

Wormwood.!

Nick growls hearing that herb’s name. It’s used to hide scents. But can be poisonous if potent enough.

But passing by a tree, he gets a slight hint of another scent. A scent he would never forget. A scent that has him sending a loud growl shaking through the tree.

Ggggrrrhhh!!!!

Nick turns around and heads back to the pack house with determination in his footsteps.

Alpha. Shouldn’t we go after her? Surely this was planned. Maybe the other scent the patrols picked up must have been a ploy to lead them away from here. Or,……did she run away?

Nick growls and turns to Micah’s wolf, who has his head already lowered to his alpha.

“Whether she ran away or was taken, she is still my mate. Nothing is final until we both make it final.” I’m sure even she knows that. “And he will die for thinking he can interfere.”

He turns and rushes back, already mind-linking Tyler.

Micah just shakes his wolf’s head at his alpha’s lack of explanation. But he knows what he thinks he should know. Alpha Nicholas knows who it is that was here, and he is determined to kill them.